"I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Ancient Gear Castle!"
Rumbling, a classic medieval castle slowly rose behind Kaname. Professor Crowler, seeing the familiar card, finally let out a small sigh of relief.
"As long as this card is on the field, each time I Normal Summon, it gains one counter. Also, while it's on the field, all Ancient Gear monsters gain 300 ATK."
"I Normal Summon Ancient Gear Hound in Attack Position!"
[Ancient Gear Hound, ATK: 1000 → 1300]
Kaname Normal Summoned the Hound from his hand, making it bite Hikaru again.
[Hikaru, LP: 3400 → 2800]
Kaname stared at his hand, frowning deeply.
The Hound had 1300 ATK; to win this turn, he'd need at least 1500 more points of damage.
He still had two monsters and a Double Summon. The monsters were Ancient Gear Tanker and Ancient Gear Wyvern. The Tanker, upon Normal or Special Summon, could Special Summon another Ancient Gear monster from the hand, ignoring conditions. The Wyvern, upon Summon, could add an Ancient Gear card from the Deck to the hand.
However, he looked at Hikaru's three face-down cards.
When he Normal Summoned the Hound earlier, Hikaru didn't react at all, not even checking the cards. So they were probably still the same ones.
'Flame Swordsdance?'
'Or is it that Trap Card that sets an opponent's monster when Special Summoning Flame Swordsman or Dark Flare Knight?'
"Heh, I activate the Spell Card, Double Summon! I can Normal Summon again this turn!" Kaname laughed and revealed a card from his hand. "I Normal Summon Ancient Gear Wyvern and activate its effect to add Ancient Gear Tank from my Deck to my hand!
However, during the turn I activate this effect, I cannot Set cards."
A mechanical wyvern covered in gears landed before him.
[Ancient Gear Wyvern] Level 4│EARTH│Machine│1700 → 2000 ATK
Good, with Ancient Gear Tank's 600 ATK boost, this turn he could definitely...
"Foolish." Chazz crossed his arms and snorted lightly, shaking his head.
"Eh, Chazz, what do you mean?" Syrus said.
Bastion shook his head. "That Kaname guy fell for it."
'!??'
Hearing their discussion, Kaname instinctively halted his actions.
"Syrus, you remember, right?" Bastion, always eager to teach, explained, "What's Hikaru's favorite Trap Card?"
"Of course, Flame Swordsdance. It can not only Fusion Summon monsters but also Set an opponent's monster face-down, and even if destroyed, it can Special Summon Flame Swordsman from a Set monster. It's Hikaru's soul card, right?"
"Exactly. It's a Trap that combines Fusion and disruption, representing Hikaru's fusion-trap mentality." Chazz nodded. "Clearly, Kaname thought of this too, which is why he chose to Normal Summon rather than Special Summon."
"He fell into the trap. Hikaru probably didn't Set that card at all."
'What!?'
Kaname's eyes widened.
"Hikaru loaded his Deck with Cyber Dragon and Chimeratech Fortress Dragon. Last turn, he even recycled Chimeratech Fortress Dragon into his Extra Deck, meaning he plans to continue fusing Machine monsters on the field.
"Face-down monsters can't be used as Fusion Materials," Zane added.
"Then," Syrus looked at Hikaru's face-down cards.
'No way!'
"Whatever! I activate the Spell Card, Ancient Gear Tank, equipping it to Ancient Gear Wyvern! Its ATK rises by 600!"
"Then, Battle Phase!"
Kaname gritted his teeth, 'If I attack successfully, I win.'
"I've been waiting for this moment! I activate my face-down card!" Hikaru's mouth curled into a smirk as he flipped a card face-up. "Gladiator Beast United!"
"Gladiator Beast!?" Kaname's face changed drastically.
The academy reps behind him also turned pale.
They knew about Gladiator Beast!
"What's happening, that face-down card."
"This card can only be activated once per turn. During the Battle Phase, I can shuffle the Fusion Materials listed for a Gladiator Beast Fusion Monster from my hand, field, or Graveyard into the Deck to Special Summon that Fusion Monster from the Extra Deck!"
"No way." He stared at Hikaru's hand in horror.
"That's right!" Hikaru swung his arm. "I shuffle Gladiator Beast Andal and Gladiator Beast Darius from my hand into the Deck to Special Summon Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!"
A warrior in full armor with a feathered helmet, fierce and ready, appeared!
[Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, Level 6│DARK│Winged Beast│2400 ATK]
"No, no way." Kaname knew exactly what was happening. "Your hand only had two cards, meaning..."
"Exactly. Activate Gyzarus's effect! When it's Special Summoned, it can destroy up to two cards on the field. I destroy your Ancient Gear Castle and my own Set card!"
BAAAMM!
The classical castle collapsed, and simultaneously, one of Hikaru's face-down cards exploded, revealing itself as Fusion Substitute!
"What a bait." Chazz shook his head.
Even with Ancient Gear Wyvern summoned, it all fell apart.
"Now then, Kaname-senpai, with your Castle destroyed, your monsters' ATK reverts to normal." Hikaru waved his arm. "Your 2300 Wyvern can't match Gyzarus!
Also, you can't Set cards this turn, though you don't have any anyway."
"My turn!"
Hikaru showed no mercy, drawing a card and immediately playing another Set card. "I reveal my Set card, Fusion Armament!"
"Its effect lets me reveal a Fusion Monster, Cyber Twin Dragon, then Special Summon a Fusion Material from my Deck or Graveyard. Come back, Cyber Dragon!"
Fusion Armament, another fake!
"This ends now! Hand over your Machines!"
"Descend, Chimeratech Fortress Dragon!"
[Chimeratech Fortress Dragon, ATK: 3000]
"Direct Attack! Fall before the true Fusion!"
KRAASH!
[Kaname, LP: 4000 → 0]